Launching today (28 July), ‘Local’ is a brand-new zine championing the often-overlooked venues, communities and artists that keep grassroots UK music culture alive.
A creative collaboration between Mura Masa and Relentless Energy, Local is part of the brand’s Freeform platform – an initiative supporting subcultural movements and creative freedom across the UK. Through artist interviews, community profiles and photography, the zine shines a light on the venues and people at the heart of local scenes
The project has been created off the back of a three-stop tour through Stockton-On-Tees, Blackpool and Bradford, which saw Mura Masa and friends play intimate DJ sets. Each night was curated in partnership with local tastemakers Mia Lily, Boo, and ZMARAKS, who each selected rising homegrown talent to take over converted backrooms, community centres, and grassroots venues.
“I love London, Manchester, Glasgow – but you shouldn’t have to be in a big city to make something happen or get the same kind of access,” said Mura Masa. “There’s actually so much going on in smaller towns, you just have to look properly.”
Designed by ToothGrinder, the zine features a visual archive of each stop on the tour, behind-the-scenes moments, and conversations with DJs, promoters, local business owners, and more. It stands as both a creative time capsule and a rallying cry for cultural decentralisation in the UK music industry.
Following the tour, Mura Masa will also take part in Freeform Forum, a mentorship programme offering direct support to early-stage artists, continuing the project’s mission to nurture talent from the ground up.
Download the zine here, and look back on the Local tour in the photos below.
